Spokane County unemployment rate dropped to 5% in March

Spokane County’s unemployment rate dropped to 5% in March, according to data from the Washington State Employment Security Department, before effects of the coronavirus pandemic began to force large scale job losses.

The county shed 300 nonfarm jobs and 100 private sector jobs in March, compared with February, according to the department.

Service and hospitality sectors each lost 700 jobs in March. The education and health services sector dropped 400 jobs and the food service sector lost 300 jobs. Employment remained steady for food and beverage, and general merchandise stores as well as in the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector.

State officials indicated that COVID-19’s impact on the workforce will likely be reflected in April’s unemployment report that is to be released next month.

The county’s unemployment rate was 5.6% in February and 6.4% in March 2019.